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Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 1 Report
21 January 2020
Lead MP
Robert Jenrick
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Housing
Other Contributors: 49
At a Glance
Robert Jenrick raised concerns about grenfell tower inquiry: phase 1 report in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
I beg to move, that this House has considered the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 1 Report. It is now over two and a half years since the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, and I believe I speak for all Members of this House when I say that we once again offer the 72 victims, the bereaved, the survivors and everyone affected our profound condolences. They remain in our thoughts and prayers. They seek answers, accountability, justice and action to ensure that this terrible tragedy is never repeated. That is why yesterday I set out our immediate plans to improve building safety in this country. Getting this right is a priority for this new Government and the Prime Minister, and it is something that I will personally be taking forward at pace.
Margaret Hodge
Lab
Barking
I am grateful to the Minister for giving way so early in his speech. He refers to the statement he made yesterday. I welcome the decision in that statement to consult on ensuring that building regulations are relevant to buildings of a lower height, but he will know from the fire at Samuel Garside House in my constituency that that was an existing building, and that it went up in just six minutes. If the fire had happened in the middle of night, it could have led to huge loss of life. Fortunately it did not, but I ask him to consider whether the regulations should not also be relevant to existing buildings, as well as to new buildings of a lower height.
Lucy Powell
Lab Co-op
Manchester Central
I thank the Secretary of State for the tone in which he is conducting this debate, and indeed in which he has been leading on these issues since he took over. Could he clarify whether this new body will mean that residents such as mine in Skyline Central 1, who are facing £25,000 bills each being passed on by the building owner, can have recourse back to the building owner, who would have to meet the cost of their now unsafe building?
Battersea
I thank the Secretary of State for being generous with his time. On that very point, he mentions having conversations with the Treasury to look at different options—he said this in his statement yesterday—but is there any set timeline for the conversations that he will have with the Treasury on this point? I ask, because leaseholders have been in this position for two years and seven months, so the sooner we can resolve how to support them so that they do not to have to front the costs of any remediation works, the better. What is the timeline that he has with the Treasury to ensure that this can be sped up, because it has been over two years?
Chingford and Woodford Green
May I slightly extend that point, as these issues reach across the Floor? Since the terrible Grenfell disaster, people in a privately owned block of flats in my constituency have faced massively increased insurance costs. They have been unable to get anyone to give them a confirmed view about the cladding, or to receive information from the fire brigade about the real nature of the threat and danger. Everybody has run for cover, and as result those people have already spent a vast amount of money—they are not wealthy people. They have now been told that the cladding does not pose a threat, but they have a backwash of costs and are still affected by this issue. Will the Secretary of State consider whether insurance companies, and others, should have been charging leaseholders those extra costs until it had been confirmed that there was a real threat?
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
This inquiry is not about finding blame; it is about finding causes and rectifying the situation. In this case, the problems that have been created regarding the wider building stock and liability are no fault of property owners, tenants or leaseholders, and that leaves a liability that falls on the Government, at least to a degree. Otherwise, there will be widening injustice, bankruptcy and failures across a whole sector of housing, because we are trying to remediate the failure of regulation in the past.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
Mr Hollinrake acknowledged the Secretary of State’s efforts in resolving cladding issues, noting that ACM is likely the most dangerous type of cladding. He expressed concern for long leaseholders who face unsaleable properties due to unclear official guidance on combustible materials.
Robert Jenrick
Reform
Newark
Mr Jenrick paid tribute to campaigners and announced the upcoming publication of test results regarding different building materials, highlighting ACM as particularly dangerous. He outlined plans for a Building Safety Bill which includes requirements for information sharing with fire services and regular inspections.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Mr Blackman requested to speak but his exact contribution is not detailed in the provided text.
Andrew Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith and Chiswick
Mr Slaughter questioned the absence of details on evacuation policies changes from yesterday's statement, urging for clarity on such significant changes which would impact means of escape and alarm systems.
Mrs May inquired about the implementation of JESIP protocol changes recommended by Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s report. She asked whether these changes have been communicated to emergency service staff.
Bob Seely
Not Listed
Caroline Johnson's Constituency
Mr Seely inquired about the progress made on identifying and remediating ACM cladding, seeking specific details on the number of buildings affected and steps taken for remediation.
Caroline Johnson
Con
Sleaford and North Hykeham
Mrs Johnson asked about the status of permanent housing provision for families still awaiting homes post-Grenfell fire, pressing for swift resolution to their situation.
Lucy Powell
Lab Co-op
Manchester Central
The Member of Parliament for Manchester Central questioned whether the Secretary of State's social housing White Paper would extend to those living in private blocks and stressed the need for greater recourse for private tenants and leaseholders.
Robert Jenrick
Reform
Newark
The Secretary of State responded that much of the work on the social housing White Paper will apply to private leaseholders, and he committed to publishing a draft Bill on leasehold reform soon. He also expressed willingness to re-examine household insurance issues raised by Margaret Hodge.
Margaret Hodge
unknown constituency
The Member of Parliament highlighted the issue of households without insurance following fires and requested that reforms consider introducing a system where building insurance is imposed on leaseholders, ensuring victims have recourse to replace lost belongings.
John Healey
Lab
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
The debate revisits the three promises made by the then Prime Minister: rehousing survivors within weeks, providing justice for victims, and ensuring landlords provide safe buildings. Survivors have still not been permanently housed; they seek answers and justice, but public inquiries take time to deliver comprehensive results. The appointment of a new panellist who accepted funding from Arconic is thoughtless and must be reversed by the Prime Minister. Thousands continue to live in unsafe homes with 315 high-rise blocks still clad in Grenfell-style cladding.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
Welcomes the Government’s action in banning combustible materials in external surfaces, which the previous Labour government had an opportunity but did not take. Acknowledges that while there have been measures taken, more needs to be done to ensure public confidence.
John Healey
Lab
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Welcomes the ban on combustible materials and some actions taken by the Government. However, calls for faster progress and stronger measures beyond just new builds. Highlights that leaseholders face significant financial burdens without clear funding support.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Emphasises the difficulties faced by leaseholders in unsafe buildings, noting high costs for waking watches and uncertainty about who will fund cladding replacements. Argues that this situation makes government help urgent and necessary to address these issues.
John Healey
Lab
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Emphasises that only the Government can fix the broken system of building safety, renew social housing, and make landlords meet their legal and financial obligations. Proposes a five-point plan for action including passing legislation to end the injustice of flat owners paying for costs of essential interim safety measures.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
Questions how action can be taken against building owners in cases of leasehold apartments, highlighting that technically the freeholder has no maintenance responsibility whatsoever.
Theresa May
Con
South West Norfolk
Welcomed the Home Secretary for bringing further debate on the Grenfell Tower inquiry to the House. Acknowledged that a previous debate was held but noted that it did not cover the detail of Sir Martin Moore-Bick's report, hence the necessity of this current debate. Raised two issues: interoperability and communications between emergency services, suggesting changes to protocol wording as recommended by Sir Martin Moore-Bick. Highlighted the critical issue of building regulations compliance, specifically requirement B4(1), questioning why Grenfell Tower did not meet these requirements despite clear regulations. Emphasised the importance of understanding how decisions were made that led to non-compliance with building standards and criticised failures in fire brigade assessments and training. Stressed the need for proper implementation of legislation on the ground.
Alison Thewliss
SNP
Glasgow Central
Highlighted concerns from constituents who cannot sell their properties due to the implications of advice note 14, leading to failed house sales and mortgage issues.
David Linden
SNP
Glasgow East
Responded positively to Alison Thewliss's points, agreeing that more needs to be done to reassure the industry and residents. Urged the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to review advice note 14 before it is rolled out.
Felicity Buchan
Con
Kensington
Pays tribute to Grenfell Tower bereaved and survivors, emphasises the need for a thorough inquiry into what happened at Grenfell. Welcomes the acceptance of all recommendations from phase 1 of the inquiry but expresses concern over buildings with ACM cladding that remain unaddressed. Calls on local authorities to use their enforcement powers to act swiftly on these buildings. Asks the Secretary of State to review whether combustible cladding and sprinkler thresholds should apply universally to other types of buildings such as schools, hospitals, and care homes. Discusses institutional failings within the London Fire Brigade and meets with Andy Roe, new commissioner, expressing confidence in his desire for change while committing herself to hold him accountable. Raises concern about the appointment of Ms Benita Mehra to the panel due to potential conflict of interest. Emphasises the importance of community involvement in decision making.
David Lammy
Lab
Tottenham
Reflects on the morning after the Grenfell Tower fire, expressing shock and dismay at the slow response from the Government. Cites statistics indicating that many buildings with flammable cladding have not been made safe, affecting families' sense of security for over two years. Criticises the Government's inaction and blames them for delays in providing funding to remove cladding. Highlights issues faced by survivors, including inadequate support and delayed progress in housing relocation. Discusses previous offensive statements from Members regarding Grenfell residents and demands accountability from decision-makers. Calls for a national oversight mechanism to ensure implementation of recommendations and reintroduces the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill for duty of candour. Emphasises the importance of not scapegoating firefighters while seeking justice through police investigations.
Dean Russell
Con
Watford
Honoured the families of victims and highlighted a personal meeting with a firefighter who was at Grenfell Tower, emphasising the psychological impact on first responders. Dean Russell noted that firefighters suffer from PTSD, relationship issues, and alcohol problems due to their experiences during and after the tragedy, advocating for better mental health support.
Andrew Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith and Chiswick
Expressed admiration for Grenfell Tower fire survivors, highlighted the ongoing issues such as rehousing residents and future of the site. Criticised the slow response by the Government in addressing building safety concerns beyond cladding. Raised questions about testing regimes, evacuation policies, and retrofitting sprinkler systems in high-rise buildings.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Agreed with Andrew Slaughter's points, expressed sympathy for Grenfell victims and admiration for their conduct. Mentioned his experience on the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority between 2004 and 2007.
Kit Malthouse
Con
North West Hampshire
Indicated dissent but did not provide a full speech contribution in the given text.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
The speaker agreed that the building regulations were ambiguous regarding ACM cladding compliance. He pointed out that Government guidance allows for two methods of meeting standards, one being that each individual component meets the required standard, while Approved Document B suggests a combustible standard.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
The speaker agreed with previous points and pointed out complicity in Whitehall and Westminster regarding recommendations from the coroner after the Lakanal House fire in 2009, which were ignored.
Karen Buck
Lab
Battersea
Emphasises the urgency of learning from the Grenfell fire and implementing necessary safety measures, including retrofitting sprinklers in existing blocks. Criticises the lack of progress on this issue despite a sense of urgency initially felt by the Government. Raises concerns about legislative complexity affecting the ability of local authorities to proceed with retrofitting efforts.
Nickie Aiken
Con
Cities of London and Westminster
Supports Karen Buck's argument, highlighting the confusion surrounding tenures in high-rise blocks and the need for legislation that allows local authorities to inspect fire safety across all tenures. Advocates for legislative changes to address these issues.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
Pays tribute to Grenfell residents for depoliticising the tragedy. Emphasises that solving this issue requires a pan-governmental approach rather than political posturing. Acknowledges the work done by the Secretary of State and former Housing Minister in tackling the issue, including the remediation fund. Supports the Government's actions regarding bans on combustible materials and replacement of ACM on buildings but raises concerns about ambiguity in guidance documents related to fire spread requirements. Critiques the current situation where leaseholders are left in a difficult position due to unclear regulations and legal responsibilities. Advocates for re-examining the issue to find solutions for long-lease holders.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Welcomed the debate and paid tribute to Grenfell families, firefighters, and community. Emphasised the scale of fire safety issues beyond high-rise buildings, including medium-sized flats, HMOs, academic buildings, workplaces, hospitals, and schools. Urged the Government to address urgent resource needs for inspections and risk management.
Vicky Ford
18:04:00
Paid tribute to Grenfell families and raised concerns about electrical safety in residential buildings and workplaces. Highlighted the importance of proper use of appliances, mentioned a Whirlpool recall of 500,000 washing machines due to fire risks, and called for a mandatory registration scheme for faulty products.
David Linden
18:04:00
Agreed with Vicky Ford's point about the need for a mandatory product registration system. Raised concerns regarding electric car charging in flats without charging points, suggesting potential safety risks such as daisy-chaining.
Margaret Ferrier
SNP
Rutherglen and Hamilton West
Ferrier congratulates the hon. Member for Chelmsford on her speech and expresses gratitude to Mr Speaker for the opportunity to speak. She highlights the importance of continuity in leadership within the all-party parliamentary group on fire safety and rescue, paying tribute to Ged Killen, her predecessor. Ferrier emphasises the historical industrial heritage of her constituency and its working-class solidarity. She discusses the Grenfell Tower tragedy, emphasising political responsibility and the need for proactive measures rather than reactive ones. She supports the Secretary of State's proposed building safety measures but highlights areas needing further clarification. She commends Scotland’s efforts to improve fire safety, particularly the requirement for interlinked smoke and heat alarms in homes by 2021. Ferrier visits the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service headquarters, praising their commitment to training and life-saving measures. She advocates for transparency on cladding issues affecting buildings and supports recommendations from phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower inquiry report, stressing the importance of communication between emergency services during major incidents.
Paul Scully
Con
Beckenham
Scully follows Margaret Ferrier's speech with his own contribution. He acknowledges the important contributions made by other Members and praises Felicity Buchan for her work as an advocate for her constituency of Kensington post-Grenfell. He discusses the tragic three-act narrative described at the Speaker’s apartment, including the phases of being ignored during refurbishment, experiencing the fire, and feeling abandoned afterward. Scully emphasises ongoing efforts by various Ministers to help communities affected by Grenfell and welcomes the proposed Bills in the Queen's Speech aimed at implementing recommendations from phase one of the report. He supports the need for legislation to ensure private contractors meet their responsibilities to building residents. He also discusses fires at Chaucer House and Richmond House, illustrating that fire safety concerns extend beyond high-rise buildings and underscores the importance of enabling people to feel safe in their homes.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
Morris emphasised the importance of examining the broader context of the Grenfell fire, including political decisions and deregulation. He highlighted several issues that compromised the building's safety before the fire, such as flammable cladding, inadequate window lining materials, non-self-closing flat doors, lack of provisions for vulnerable residents, single narrow stairwell without firefighting lifts or wet risers, and failure of smoke control systems. Morris also criticised cuts to London’s fire service during politically motivated austerity which led to the loss of equipment and personnel. He called on the Government to meet with the Fire Brigades Union to draft a detailed policy on ‘stay put’ principles and address when residents should move from ‘stay put’ to ‘get out’. Morris stressed that cuts to the fire and rescue services increased public risk, and highlighted the need for better resources and equipment for firefighters to maintain public safety.
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Chorley
Hoyle reminded the speaker of the time limit, stating that Morris had exceeded his five-minute speaking limit by more than double.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
As a member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee for five years, I have observed the slow process of rehousing survivors from the Grenfell Tower disaster. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's early actions contributed to delays in rehousing due to insufficient assessments of housing needs before property purchases. The lack of clarity on cladding types is also concerning, with some being flammable despite limited funding for their removal. Survivors are concerned about the Government’s reduction of height above which flammable clading is banned from 18 stories to 11 stories. I support a White Paper on social housing that addresses issues of dignity and safety for tenants in both public and private sectors, with penalties for landlords who breach responsibilities. The inquiry panel must address cultural expertise regarding how social housing tenants are treated. Additionally, basic recommendations like clearly marking floor numbers should be implemented without delay to ensure safety.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
I pay tribute to the Grenfell survivors and firefighters for their dignity and bravery. The new building safety regulator must have a wide scope, including reviewing all building materials like cladding and sprinklers in tower blocks. It is unacceptable that thousands of families still live in unsafe high-rise buildings. I welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement on naming and shaming those responsible for failures to remove cladding but urge immediate deadlines for its removal or government intervention if necessary. The Government must ensure that all recommendations are enacted to prevent future tragedies.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South and Walkden
I highlight the fire at The Cube in my constituency, which left 200 students homeless. This incident, along with Grenfell, demonstrates that the building regulatory system is broken. I support reducing the height limit for tighter controls to 11 metres as announced by the Secretary of State but believe it does not go far enough, considering other high-risk buildings like hospitals and schools also need regulation. The Government must recognise risks from cladding materials beyond ACM, such as high-pressure laminate used at The Cube, and exempt remedial works from VAT charges. Proper fire procedures and detection systems are essential for all high-rise buildings.
Diane Abbott
Ind
Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Above all, Diane Abbott emphasised the human impact of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. She highlighted that residents had warned about safety concerns before the fire but were ignored by local authorities. Abbott welcomed the Minister's cautious approach to reforming social housing and called for urgent action on rehousing survivors and addressing their broader needs, including mental health support. She also criticised the delay in removing flammable cladding from other buildings and stressed the need for speed in implementing changes to ensure safety. Furthermore, she underlined the importance of engaging with the local community and acknowledged the bravery of emergency services.
Kit Malthouse
Con
North West Hampshire
Acknowledges the victims' dignity and resilience while emphasising the need for systemic changes. The report's findings include recommendations to improve fire safety, such as equipping high-rise buildings with evacuation signals and way-finding signage. The Government supports a national improvement plan for the fire sector and commits to reviewing joint emergency service interoperability principles by September 2023.
David Linden
Lab
Glasgow East
Raises concerns about individuals living in temporary accommodation post-Grenfell tragedy, questioning whether they have continuously been housed there and stressing the need for sensitivity towards their plight. Also questions the effectiveness of a new simplified process by which surveyors can confirm properties with cladding are financeable.
Kit Malthouse
Con
North West Hampshire
Reassured the House that a watching brief is kept on the new protocol's effect. Addressed questions about the site, highlighting the commission led by bereaved individuals and community members. Discussed progress in electrical safety compliance for landlords, mentioning ongoing work to understand product registration barriers. Acknowledged complexity of retrofitting sprinklers due to collective ownership issues. Emphasised commitment to learning from the tragedy and ensuring it does not recur.
Government Response
The Minister emphasised the progress made in addressing ACM cladding and outlined significant reforms including the creation of a new building safety regulator. He also provided details on measures to improve evacuation procedures based on Sir Martin's report recommendations.
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